Photo of a mediterranean front yard driveway in San Diego.

Once a dark space, this powder room glistens with glass mosaic tile, chrome and lucite sconces and a wide open chocolate marble vanity. Jerry Hayes Photography

Kitchen - contemporary medium tone wood floor and brown floor kitchen idea in Chicago with a farmhouse sink, flat-panel cabinets, medium tone wood cabinets, quartzite countertops, metallic backsplash, matchstick tile backsplash and stainless steel appliances

Dining room - 1960s dining room idea in San Francisco

Cold frames are a terrific way to extend the growing season on both ends; serving as mini-greenhouses they allow your garden to keep producing in cold weather months when growing would otherwise be impossible. These beautiful, locally made cedar cold frames measure 24″x 44″ and slope from 5″ in front to 24″ in back (custom built sizes are also available). A temperature sensitive piston automatically opens and closes the lid as-need to create a perfect climate for your plants.

Karol Steczowski - Axim Design
Elegant u-shaped medium tone wood floor kitchen photo in Bridgeport with a farmhouse sink, recessed-panel cabinets, gray cabinets, gray backsplash, stainless steel appliances and an island

Lincoln Farmhouse LEED-H Platinum, Net-Positive Energy OVERVIEW. This LEED Platinum certified modern farmhouse ties into the cultural landscape of Lincoln, Massachusetts - a town known for its rich history, farming traditions, conservation efforts, and visionary architecture. The goal was to design and build a new single family home on 1.8 acres that respects the neighborhood’s agrarian roots, produces more energy than it consumes, and provides the family with flexible spaces to live-play-work-entertain. The resulting 2,800 SF home is proof that families do not need to compromise on style, space or comfort in a highly energy-efficient and healthy home. CONNECTION TO NATURE. The attached garage is ubiquitous in new construction in New England’s cold climate. This home’s barn-inspired garage is intentionally detached from the main dwelling. A covered walkway connects the two structures, creating an intentional connection with the outdoors between auto and home. FUNCTIONAL FLEXIBILITY. With a modest footprint, each space must serve a specific use, but also be flexible for atypical scenarios. The Mudroom serves everyday use for the couple and their children, but is also easy to tidy up to receive guests, eliminating the need for two entries found in most homes. A workspace is conveniently located off the mudroom; it looks out on to the back yard to supervise the children and can be closed off with a sliding door when not in use. The Away Room opens up to the Living Room for everyday use; it can be closed off with its oversized pocket door for secondary use as a guest bedroom with en suite bath. NET POSITIVE ENERGY. The all-electric home consumes 70% less energy than a code-built house, and with measured energy data produces 48% more energy annually than it consumes, making it a 'net positive' home. Thick walls and roofs lack thermal bridging, windows are high performance, triple-glazed, and a continuous air barrier yields minimal leakage (0.27ACH50) making the home among the tightest in the US. Systems include an air source heat pump, an energy recovery ventilator, and a 13.1kW photovoltaic system to offset consumption and support future electric cars. ACTUAL PERFORMANCE. -6.3 kBtu/sf/yr Energy Use Intensity (Actual monitored project data reported for the firm’s 2016 AIA 2030 Commitment. Average single family home is 52.0 kBtu/sf/yr.) o 10,900 kwh total consumption (8.5 kbtu/ft2 EUI) o 16,200 kwh total production o 5,300 kwh net surplus, equivalent to 15,000-25,000 electric car miles per year. 48% net positive. WATER EFFICIENCY. Plumbing fixtures and water closets consume a mere 60% of the federal standard, while high efficiency appliances such as the dishwasher and clothes washer also reduce consumption rates. FOOD PRODUCTION. After clearing all invasive species, apple, pear, peach and cherry trees were planted. Future plans include blueberry, raspberry and strawberry bushes, along with raised beds for vegetable gardening. The house also offers a below ground root cellar, built outside the home's thermal envelope, to gain the passive benefit of long term energy-free food storage. RESILIENCY. The home's ability to weather unforeseen challenges is predictable - it will fare well. The super-insulated envelope means during a winter storm with power outage, heat loss will be slow - taking days to drop to 60 degrees even with no heat source. During normal conditions, reduced energy consumption plus energy production means shelter from the burden of utility costs. Surplus production can power electric cars & appliances. The home exceeds snow & wind structural requirements, plus far surpasses standard construction for long term durability planning. ARCHITECT: ZeroEnergy Design http://zeroenergy.com/lincoln-farmhouse CONTRACTOR: Thoughtforms http://thoughtforms-corp.com/ PHOTOGRAPHER: Chuck Choi http://www.chuckchoi.com/

Benjamin Benschneider
Inspiration for a large contemporary galley concrete floor open concept kitchen remodel in Seattle with an undermount sink, medium tone wood cabinets, glass countertops, glass tile backsplash, paneled appliances and an island

This 1600+ square foot basement was a diamond in the rough. We were tasked with keeping farmhouse elements in the design plan while implementing industrial elements. The client requested the space include a gym, ample seating and viewing area for movies, a full bar , banquette seating as well as area for their gaming tables - shuffleboard, pool table and ping pong. By shifting two support columns we were able to bury one in the powder room wall and implement two in the custom design of the bar. Custom finishes are provided throughout the space to complete this entertainers dream.

Inspiration for a cottage home office remodel in St Louis

A contemporary interpretation of nostalgic farmhouse style, this Indiana home nods to its rural setting while updating tradition. A central great room, eclectic objects, and farm implements reimagined as sculpture define its modern sensibility. Photos by Hedrich Blessing

Example of a mid-sized transitional wooden curved metal railing staircase design in Houston with painted risers

Modern garage door part of a residential installation implementing a faux wood door.
Mid-sized minimalist two-car garage photo in Toronto

This 1600+ square foot basement was a diamond in the rough. We were tasked with keeping farmhouse elements in the design plan while implementing industrial elements. The client requested the space include a gym, ample seating and viewing area for movies, a full bar , banquette seating as well as area for their gaming tables - shuffleboard, pool table and ping pong. By shifting two support columns we were able to bury one in the powder room wall and implement two in the custom design of the bar. Custom finishes are provided throughout the space to complete this entertainers dream.

Photo: Lauren Edith Andersen © 2017 Houzz
Bathroom - eclectic bathroom idea in San Francisco

Eric Roth Photography
Example of a mid-sized country open concept light wood floor living room design in Boston with white walls and no tv

Maximizing the functionality of this space, and coordinating the new kitchen with the beautiful remodel completed previously by the client were the two most important aspects of this project. The existing spaces are elegantly decorated with an open plan, dark hardwood floors, and natural stone accents. The new, lighter, more open kitchen flows beautifully into the client’s existing dining room space. Satin nickel hardware blends with the stainless steel appliances and matches the satin nickel details throughout the home. The fully integrated refrigerator next to the narrow pull-out pantry cabinet, take up less visual weight than a traditional stainless steel appliance and the two combine to provide fantastic storage. The glass cabinet doors and decorative lighting beautifully highlight the client’s glassware and dishes. Finished with white subway tile, Dreamy Marfil quartz countertops, and a warm natural wood blind; the space warm, inviting, elegant, and extremely functional. copyright 2013 marilyn peryer photography

Federica Carlet
Mid-sized trendy galley light wood floor and beige floor eat-in kitchen photo in New York with flat-panel cabinets, an island, an undermount sink, black cabinets, white backsplash and gray countertops